Taroona v Hobart Zebras (WSL)

For some reason the second haf text has vanished. Will try recover it, but seems to have gone the way of the dodo! The game ended 2-0 with Bliss Cantrell coming off the bench and scoring early in the second half as Zebras continued their perfect start to 2017. Taroona probably should have had a penalty midway through the second half but on the balance of play it’s hard to argue with any other result other than a Zebras victory. They had the majority of the chances and if not for a fine goalkeeping display from Ottavi it would have been over earlier.

And that is the final action of the first half. So it’s 1-0 Zebras at the break, would have been more if not for some fine goalkeeper from Ottavi.

45+1′ Shot off! Berry with one of the more optimistic efforts you’ll see, skewing one off the left from 35 yards well wide.

45′ Shot off! Blackwood-Coyle steals a yard in the box between Mason and Undy and fires a shot just wide of the near post.

44′ Ayton of the Holly variety takes off on a storming run down the right, getting past 2 defenders to win a throw in an advanced area.

42′ Shot on! Another stop, this one more regulation as, Kannegiesser I think it was, tried to sneak one in at the near post from distance, Ottavi gets down well to hold on to it.

41′ Save! Ottavi is having a blinder! This time she reacts well to close down Nichols at the near post who fired one on target after a cross came in from Morris who had got around Ayton, wide on the left. Zebras have got right back on top in the last 10 minutes and are unlucky not have doubled their lead.

39′ Save! Cracking save from Ottavi, Morris blasted one from range that looked certain to fly into the top corner but a diving Ottavi makes a spectacular stop.

36′ Save! Another great stop from Ottavi, this time to deny Kannegiesser, who had cut inside of Dick and fired powerfully from the angle with one that was headed top window till Ottavi flicked up a hand to it.

31′ Shot on! Bowden with a curler from range that a diving Ottavi does well to stop, and then react well to claw the rebound away from a lurking Morris. First chance in a while here, has been a game devoid of scoring chances since that early goal.

28′ Cook makes a sliding challenge to just get to a ball before Hulton who was tracking a long ball over the top. Taroona have played pretty direct so far.

27 Dick smashes a teasing cross, it glides across the face of goal and nobody can get a touch to it. Top ball, nobody there to turn it home though.

23′ A superb through ball from Horgan comes close to unlocking the defence but Undy gets a foot in to steer it away from Blackwood-Coyle.

20′ Both defences are firmly on top at the moment. Taroona have grown into the game and had the better of the last few minutes, driving forwards and enjoying some play up the other end of the pitch but have been unable generate a chance with the Zebras back four looking in control.

Mady O’Brien lining up as a centre back today, with Nellis at right back and Mason left back. Burt lining up as the deepest of the midfielders and has been shadowing Adelyn Ayton everytime she has got a touch so far.

6′ Shot off! Morris blasts one well over the top after she found space. Zebras firmly on top.

5′ Almost another! Ottavi is alert to come flying miles off her line and makes a perfect sliding challenge to intervene.

4′ GOAL! 1-0! First chance of the game! And Nichols pounces, long ball over the top, she runs in 1 v 1 with Ottavi and slides it home.

Welcome to Kelvedon Park for this massive Round 7 Super League clash. These Taroona v Zebras games have been fantastic entertainment this season and I’m expecting nothing less from thus one. Two talented teams who play a good style. Taroona have gotten close but not quite been able to get them yet, is this the day they finally turn the tables? Let’s find out.

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The appetite for a professional sporting franchise down here remains as ravenous as ever. Tasmanian’s love their sport and they have been starved of representation in National competitions, looked over time after time. The AFL clearly won’t be the ones to sate that hunger, thus FFA finds itself with the chance to both fill that gap in the market and strike a blow against the AFL in one fell swoop.